The Power of the Breath

How we exist and breathe in this world has more power over our feelings and emotions than most people are aware. As an involuntary process that our body takes care of for us, it’s easy to forget that we’re doing it at all, and when we unknowingly shorten our breaths out of anger or stress, it compounds on the negative emotions we’re already feeling.

Slowing down and taking deep, meaningful breaths is important when it comes to controlling stress, anger, and other negative feelings. The next time you’re feeling pressured or upset, here are some great physical and emotional reasons to slow down and take deep breaths:

Your breathing becomes slower and more controlled. Often, when someone is upset their breaths become short or hitched without even knowing. Taking control by purposefully controlling your breath slows this process down and allows you to gain control.

You improve your posture.– As you practice your deep breathing, you’ll notice yourself starting to sit upright in an effort to open your airways. This practice extends beyond your breathing practices and tends to overflow into daily life.

Mental clarity– As deep breathing is a form of meditation, it naturally leads to a higher state of mental clarity. Taking a moment each day to focus on your breathing clears your mind, and the more you practice, the easier it becomes.

Weight loss – Though this may not be the purposeful target of deep breathing exercises, better health and weight loss are natural side effects of this type of meditation as lower blood pressure and decreases in stress positively impact the body’s functions

When we’re feeling pushed to our limits, it’s important to remember to take a moment and focus on the breath, which can so easily become tight and constricted. When you open your airways, you’re bringing in positivity with every inhale, and removing negative thoughts through exhales.